SHRI MADDIRALA NAGARAJU - AN IDEAL OFFICER

Santosh Karmakar, Ex-ADM, Khowai

May 20, 2026   

Shri M. Nagaraju, an IAS officer of the 1993 batch from the Tripura cadre, is currently serving in the Finance Ministry, Government of India. This article contains his service experiences in Tripura, particularly in Kamalpur. Shri Maddirala Nagaraju held several important administrative positions in Tripura and is widely recognised for his contribution to governance and public administration in the state. During his tenure, he played significant roles in various departments and administrative initiatives.

 

Nagaraju Sir joined as SDO, Kamalpur in the first week of September, 1995 (the post was redesignated as SDM from November, 2002). As DC, Revenue Circle, Kamalpur, I joined the office of the SDO, Kamalpur on 15/09/1995. I was the Branch Officer of the Revenue, Judicial, Administrative Camp, and Election Sections. Under his leadership, direction, and guidance, I could exhibit good performance during my Kamalpur tenure from September 1995 to August 1998.

 

There are many memories associated with Nagaraju Sir. His objectives were inclusion, empowerment, and equality. Two memorable incidents are narrated below:

 

1. Administrative Camp at Dhansingh Roaja Para

 

There was an administrative camp at Dhansingh Roaja Para in December, 1996. The village was about 12 km from the roadhead on the Ambassa–Gandachara Road. Officials travelled partly through hilly terrain and partly alongside a river. The administrative camp was attended by the DM, Dhalai, Shri R. Sarwal; Shri M. Nagaraju, SDO, Kamalpur; Pramode Debbarma, BDO, Salema; other officers of the SDO office, Kamalpur; and all subdivision-level officers of line departments.

 

After completion of the administrative camp, the officials stayed overnight at Dhansingh Roaja Para, a remote habitation. After dinner, all officials slept in the tongghars of the Jhumia families of the village. The villagers were happy to learn that the entire administration had assembled there. The District Magistrate and other officers interacted with the villagers and learnt about their requirements for improving infrastructural facilities.

 

The villagers received blankets, medicines, seeds from the Agriculture Department, citizenship certificates, ST certificates, residential certificates, and income certificates. The ICAT Department arranged a screening of the movie Ananda Ashram for the entertainment of the villagers.

 

The next day, the officials left Dhansingh Roaja Para. It was later heard that some unknown miscreants had also assembled there and watched the movie Ananda Ashram. By the grace of God, nothing untoward happened during the onward or return journey.

 

2. Parliamentary Election, 1996

 

During the Parliamentary Election of 1996, one polling team for Khagendra Roaja Para JB School under 48-Kulai (ST) Assembly Constituency was dispatched from Kamalpur via Sikaribari Tower. On the way, the polling party was attacked by extremists. As a result, some polling materials were lost. However, the polling personnel remained unharmed.

 

Thereafter, a new polling party was formed with (1) Kamal Chakraborty, (2) Sajal Biswas, (3) Bijoy Tripura, and (4) Jacob Rukhum. The party was instructed to follow an alternative route. Accordingly, the polling party left Kamalpur on the preceding night and reached the polling station through Chawmanu. Polling was conducted peacefully, and the party later returned to Kamalpur via Chawmanu, avoiding the normal route through Sikaribari Tower.

 

Another election-related incident occurred during a re-poll at 48/25 Kathalchara TMC High School. The re-poll became necessary due to mistakes committed by the Presiding Officer, who was not properly acquainted with electoral procedures. Though Presiding Officers are vested with immense powers, they should remain cautious to avoid mistakes.

 

Shri M. Nagaraju had a good command over planning, economics, and institutional revenue generation. As per the new Municipal Act, 1994, elections to the Nagar Panchayat were conducted in 1995. Thereafter, the post of Member Secretary of the Nagar Panchayat was redesignated as Executive Officer, and a TCS officer under the SDO, Kamalpur was appointed as EO. During a general meeting of the Nagar Panchayat, Sir was invited, and he delivered an excellent presentation on planning, economy, and revenue generation.

 

Nagaraju Sir’s favourite subjects included child health and immunisation. Every month, he reviewed IMR, MMR, immunisation, and institutional delivery programmes, where the MOS, CDPO, and BDO participated. Under his supervision and direction, the first Pulse Polio Immunisation programme was carried out on 09/12/1995, followed by the second round on 20/01/1996. Later, it was learnt that Kamalpur’s performance in administering OPV was the best in the entire Dhalai district.

 

Shri M. Nagaraju also paid special attention to tribal welfare. He regularly visited colonies located at Jamthum, Apareshkar–Panboa, Shetrai, Saikar, and a colony named “Aichukni Pohor” at Haduk Kolok. In these colonies, he laid emphasis on rubber and arecanut plantations for increasing income. In the Bilashchara and Baligaon areas, he regularly visited lemon and betel plantations. Sir also paid special attention to the coaching of tribal students in core subjects. He regularly visited coaching centres to ensure that proper guidance was imparted and students could prepare well for examinations.

 

Shri M. Nagaraju was very good at maintaining cordial relationships with officers and staff. On the eve of Republic Day and Independence Day, officers of the SDO office were invited to dinner at his residence. It was learnt that the expenditure for such gatherings was borne personally by him.

 

For the welfare of staff, Sir constructed a recreation hall inside the SDO office complex. He inaugurated it in the presence of other officers. He also procured a harmonium and other items for the recreation of staff members. Fortunately, the SDO office had talented singers, dramatists, chess players, and badminton players at that time. Officers often participated in badminton matches after office hours. There were also talented drama artists such as Shri Sunil Sukladas, Shri Ranadhir Bhattacharya, and Shri Kamal Chakraborty.

 

Sir conducted the Municipal Election, 1995, the Lok Sabha Election, 1996, and the Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) programme. As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, the work of issuing EPIC cards started in Kamalpur on 29/11/1995. I was closely associated with this work. Under ERO, Kamalpur, there were four Assembly segments: 45-Kamalpur, 46-Surma (SC), 47-Salema (ST), and 48-Kulai (ST).

 

On the first day of photography, an unfortunate incident took place. Unknown gunmen attacked the UBI Kamalpur Branch and opened indiscriminate fire. They killed one person, looted a substantial amount of money from the bank vault, and fled towards Bangladesh. As the SDO office was nearby, we could clearly hear the sounds of firing.

 

I would like to conclude this brief write-up here. Sir’s outlook was deeply humanitarian. His philanthropic attitude could be understood from a display board affixed in his office, which read:

 

“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” -William Penn

   (Tripurainfo)

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